Flush panel construction for conduit caps



July 3, 1956 J. YOUNG ET AL 2,753,076

FLUSH PANEL CONSTRUCTION FOR CONDUI'I' CAPS Filed March 22, 1955 INVENTORS JULIUS YOUNG BY BENJAMIN W.COLMAM ATTO RNIEY FLUSH PANEL CONSTRUCTION FOR CONDUIT CAPS Julius Young, Detroit, and Benjamin W. Colman, Berkley, Mich.

Application March 22, 1955, Serial No. 496,039

8 Claims. (Cl. 220-=-86) This invention relates to a flush panel construction for conduit caps, and more particularly to such a construction for use with tubular elements terminating at or closely adjacent a panel surface.

As a specific preferred embodiment of the invention, a gas tank tube cap flush panel arrangement will be described below. However, it is to be clearly understood that the embodiment described is merely indicative of the applications to which the disclosed invention lends itself. Other suitable applications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

The invention briefly comprises a gas tank fluid receiving tube leading from an opening in a fender panel to a gas tank (not shown), a pivoting cap for the open end of the tube in the plane of the fender panel, a recess panel in the fender opening movable inwardly and surrounding the cap, and a resilient means such as a spring urging the re cess panel into flush alignment with the cap and the fender panel. The recess panel upon being shifted inwardly of the fender panel causes the pivoted cap to open outwardly and expose the open end of the tube. The cap will not pivot or open when the recess panel is flush aligned with the fender panel. The cap will not close upon the open tube end when the recess panel has been shifted inwardly. A recess panel of less than full circular design amy be employed in the instant construction as well.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a flush panel construction in which an open ended tube adjacent the plane of the panel is capped with an operatng part actuated by a recess panel shiftable inwardly of the flush panel. Another object is the provision of a tube cap which operates to open or close the tube end upon shifting movement of the recess panel.

These and other objects and features of construction will become more clearly apparent from the description of the invention given below, in which the terms employed are for purposes of description and not of limitation. In the drawing annexed hereto and made an integral part hereof:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a fender panel including the inventive construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line -i-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the recess panel shifted inwardly and maintaining the cap in open position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a recess panel of less than full circular design.

As shown in the several views of the drawing, the flush panel construction 10 comprises an outer panel 12, a pivoted cap 14, a recess panel 16 (or 16A in Fig. 6), and a resilient means such as spring 18, mounted in panel opening 2d about the open end 22 of tube 24.

Tube 24 is suitably supported by a bracket 26 adjacent the panel opening 20. The tube end 22 may be central, as in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, or may be off center, as in Fig. 6. Bracket 26 may be spot welded to tube 24 and outer panel 12, or otherwise suitably aflixed. Bracket 26 is preferably arranged as an open cup, provided with a hole through which tube 24 is disposed.

Cap 14 is arranged with an outer face 30 and a flange 32 adapted to closely cover the tube end 22. An arm 34 extends rearwardly a short distance from a portion of flange 32, at right angles to cap face 30. Arm 34 is arranged with a pin bearing 36 and an upturned bell crank extension 38 at the pin bearing.

Arm 34 is pivoted on pin 40 passing through the pin bearing 36 therein and a bearing 42 on support bracket 44 ailixed to bracket 26. Of course, support bracket 44 may optionally be afiixed to tube 24, if desired, or to any other suitable base that may be present in the construction. it will thus be seen that cap 14 swings in a vertical path about horizontal pin 10. Optionally, of course, cap 14 could be arranged to swing in a horizontal path about a vertical pin iii, if so desired, or at any angle to a vertical plane.

Recess panel 16 surrounds cap face 30 and is positioned in panel opening 20. The outer peripheral edge of recess panel 16 is provided with a stepped edge to complement the outer panel edge 46 extending into the cup shaped bracket 26.

The spring 18 is a coiled helical spring disposed in the bracket 26 against the recess panel 16, urging the panel into flush alignment with the outer panel 12.

As shown .in Fig. 6, the recess panel 16A partially surrounds the tube cap 14. Springs 18A urge the recess panel 16A into fiush alignment with the outer panel 11b in panel opening ZllA, which is irregularly shaped as shown, the tube cap 14 being off center in the opening.

In operation, the recess, panel 16 or 16A is shifted inwardly of the outer panel 10, by the fingers, against the upturned bell crank extension 38. As it meets the extension and continues to move inwardly, cap face 30 swings upward and outward in a vertical path exposing the open end 22 of tube 2-4. it tube 24 leads to a gasoline tank in a motor vehicle, the open end 22 will receive a gasoline filling nozzle.

So long as recess panel 16 or 16A extends and is positioned over extension 38, cap 14 will not close down ward upon tube end 22. The usual manner of keeping the cap 14 open is to maintain an uplifting force at the outer edge of cap 14, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. When the uplifting force is removed, the spring 13 will urge recess panel 16 (springs 18A for recess panel 16A) outwardly toward panel ill. As recess panel 16 moves past pivot pin 40, the cap 14 will tilt and swing downwardly upon the tube end 22. When recess panel 16 or 16A is fully seated and flush aligned with outer panel 1%), the cap 14 will be held in closed position upon tube end 22.

it will be observed that this flush panel construction lends itself to a wide variety of applications, which persons skilled in the art may encounter. Having described our invention in its simplest terms, it is to be understood that the details of construction may be varied in greater or lesser degree without departing from the essence of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device having digitally operable elements, an outer panel having an opening, a tube terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, an operating part pivotally positioned in said opening over the end of said tube in the plane of said panel, a protecting and finishing plate movably mounted about said operating part in the plane of said panel and shiftable inwardly of said panel into contact with said operating part, said operating part having an arm disposed in the path of said shiftable plate whereby, upon contact of said plate against said arm and further inward shifting of said plate, said operating part pivots outwardly from said tube end to expose the same.

2. In a device having digitally operable elements, an outer panel having an opening, a tube having one end terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, a pivoting cap over the end of said tube in the plane of said panel, a digitally operable recess panel movably mounted in said opening about said operating part and inwardly shiftable into operative contact with said cap, said cap having means disposed in the path of said recess panel whereby, upon contact of said recess panel with said means and further inward travel of said recess panel, said cap pivots outwardly from said tube end to expose the same.

3. In a device having digitally operable elements, an outer panel having an opening, a tube having one end ter minating adjacent the plane of said panel, a pivoting cap over the end of said tube in the plane of said panel, a digitally operable recess panel movably mounted in said opening about said operating part and inwardly shiftable into operative contact with said cap, resilient means urging said recess panel into flush alignment with said outer panel and said cap, said cap having pivoting means disposed in the path of said recess panel whereby, upon inward travel of said recess panel into operative contact with said pivotin g means, said cap is pivoted outwardly from said. tube end to expose the same, and upon termination of said inward travel said resilient means operating to urge said recess panel out of engagement with said pivoting means to move said cap into tube and closing position in the plane of said outer panel.

4. In a device having a digitally operated element, an outer panel having an opening, a tube having one end terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, a pivoting cap disposed over said tube end in the plane of said panel, said cap being pivotally mounted inwardly of said panel and having bell crank means thereon, a digitally operable recess panel movably mounted in said opening about said pivoting cap and inwardly shiftable into operative engagement with said bell crank means, resilient means in contact with said recess panel yieldingly resisting inward shifting of said recess panel and urging said recess panel toward flush alignment with said outer panel and said cap, said recess panel being shiftable into engagement with said bell crank means restrictive of pivoting movement of said cap and shiftable out of engagement with said bell crank means into contact with said cap whereby said cap pivots into closing of said tube end in the plane of said outer panel.

5. In a device having a digitally operable element, an outer panel having an opening, a conduit having its outer end terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, a cap adjacent the plane of said panel over said conduit end pivotally arranged adjacent said conduit on a support mounted inwardly of said outer panel, said cap having an arm fulcrumed on and extending above said support, a digitally operable recess panel movably mounted in said opening about said cap and inwardly shiftable into operative pivoting engagement with said arm whereby said cap is pivoted out of closing relation with said conduit end, said recess panel being shiftable into a position above said arm preventing pivoting movement of said cap, resilient means inwardly of said outer panel in operative contact with said recess panel and yieldingly resistant to inward shifting of said recess panel, said resilient means urging said recess panel toward flush alignment with said outer panel and into pivoting engagement with said cap whereby said cap is moved into closing relation over said conduit end adjacent the plane of said outer panel.

6. The structure defined in claim 5, in which said recess panel lies in a plane with said conduit cap, said cap being pivotable in a plane normal to the plane of said recess panel and into the plane. of said recess panel, whereby pivoting movement of said cap is prevented when said recess panel is adjacent the. plane of said outer panel and said movement is permitted when said recess panel is inwardly shifted past the fulcrum of said arm.

7. In a device having a digitally operable element, an outer panel having an opening, a conduit having one end terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, a conduit end closing cap adjacent the plane of said panel in said opening, said cap having pivoting means associated therewith inwardly of said panel, digitally operated protecting and finishing plate movably mounted in said opening over a portion of said cap and shiftable inwardly of said panel into operative pivoting engagement with said pivoting means whereby upon inward shifting of said plate said cap pivots outwardly from said conduit end exposing the same and upon reverse movement of said plate said cap pivots into closing relation over said conduit end.

8. In a device having a digitally operable element, an outer panel having an opening, a conduit having one end terminating adjacent the plane of said panel, a conduit end closing cap adjacent the plane of said panel in said opening, said cap having pivoting means associated therewith inwardly of said panel, digitally operated protecting and finishing plate. movably mounted in said opening about said cap and shiftable inwardly of said panel into operative pivoting engagement with said pivoting means whereby upon inward shifting of said plate said cap pivots outwardly from said conduit end exposing the same and upon reverse movement of said plate said cap pivots into closing relation over said conduit end.

No references cited. 

